Food Safety Wing issues sweets quality, hygiene advisory ahead of Rakhi festival
Ferozepur, August 12, 2028: In view of the upcoming Rakhi festival, the Food Safety Wing, Health Department, Ferozepur, has appealed to the residents and sweet shop owners to give top priority to food safety, hygiene and public health during the festive season.
The Food Safety Wing has specifically advised all sweet manufacturers and sellers to remain vigilant regarding sweets and other food products being brought from outside areas through buses, trains, transport vehicles or private vehicles and subsequently sold in the local market.
Special Appeal to Sweet Shop Owners
Making an appeal, Abhinav Kumar, Food Safety Officer, Food Safety Wing said, All sweet shop owners are advised that whenever they purchase ready-made sweets, khoya or any other food products from outside suppliers, they must obtain and maintain proper bills/invoices, details of the manufacturer/supplier and valid FSSAI licence/registration details, wherever applicable.
If sweets or other food articles are supplied by an outside supplier or transporter, the Food Business Operator should verify the source, food safety compliance and applicable FSSAI licence/registration before accepting such products.
The concerned Food Business Operator shall be responsible for ensuring the safety, quality and legal compliance of the food products stored and sold at his/her premises.
Prepare Fresh Sweets and Sell Them Fresh
The Food Safety Wing appeals to sweet shop owners to preferably prepare fresh sweets using good-quality and standard raw materials and sell them fresh to consumers.
While preparing sweets, the following precautions must be strictly followed:
- Only clean, safe and good-quality raw materials should be used.
- In khoya-based sweets, appropriate khoya should be used and no substandard or unauthorized substitute should be used.
- In besan-based sweets, good-quality besan should be used.
- Only permitted food colours should be used in sweets such as Barfi, Gulab Jamun and Chamcham, and only within the prescribed limits.
- No unauthorized colour, chemical or harmful substance should be used in any food item.
- Sugar and other ingredients should be used as per the applicable food standards.
- Sweets must be protected from dust, dirt, insects and other sources of contamination.
- Proper cleanliness and hygiene of the shop, kitchen, utensils, equipment, food handlers and storage areas must be maintained.
- Stale, spoiled or otherwise unsafe sweets must not be offered for sale or human consumption.
An Opportunity to Improve Compliance
The Food Safety Wing appeals to all sweet shop owners to use the festive occasion as an opportunity to provide safe and quality food to the public.
“Every sweet sold at your shop is connected with the health of a family. Therefore, public health must always be given priority over profit.”
The Food Safety Wing has further clarified that if any violation of food safety laws, standards or applicable regulations is detected during inspection, appropriate legal action shall be initiated against the concerned Food Business Operator under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the applicable Rules/Regulations.
Appeal to the Residents of Ferozepur
The Food Safety Wing also appeals to the residents of Ferozepur to purchase sweets only from clean, reliable and licensed/registered Food Business Operators during the Rakhi festival.
Consumers are advised to avoid purchasing sweets that appear suspicious, have an unusually low price, or have abnormal colour, smell or taste. Any suspected adulterated or unsafe food product should be reported to the Food Safety Department.
The objective of the Food Safety Wing, Ferozepur, is not to harass any trader or business operator, but to ensure that the public receives safe, hygienic and quality sweets during the festive season.
“Safe and Adulteration-Free Sweets — A Promise of Health and Happiness for Every Family.”